GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

9140 28th St. Yuma, AZ 85365

Salary: $23.07 - $25.48/hr 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: 12/31/2025

WILDLIFE AREA MANAGER
“Region IV Wildlife Areas Manager”
FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION / REGION 4 / YUMA, ARIZONA BASED
FLSA-Non-Exempt / SALARY GRADE 19 / HIRING HOURLY RANGE $23.07 - $25.48

Are you driven by purpose, fueled by the outdoors, and inspired by the chance to protect Arizona’s wild places? The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking a passionate, hands-on conservation professional to serve as the Wildlife Area Manager for Region IV—a role where your work on the ground directly shapes the future of Arizona’s landscapes and the wildlife that depend on them.

Arizona’s Wildlife Areas are critical refuges for species, watersheds, hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. As the designated steward of Commission-owned and managed lands in Region IV, you’ll lead the charge in restoring habitat, improving public access, protecting sensitive resources, and ensuring these special places thrive for generations.

This is conservation in action—equal parts strategic planning, ecological restoration, community partnership, and hands-on fieldwork.

What You’ll Do:
• Identify, develop, and implement habitat improvement projects that directly benefit Arizona’s wildlife.
• Maintain and improve public and operational infrastructure.
• Oversee repairs and upkeep of wildlife area facilities, vehicles, equipment, waterlines, irrigation systems, storage structures, and fencing.
• Evaluate infrastructure needs and propose enhancements that support safe and meaningful public use.
• Lead planning, risk assessment, and stewardship efforts.
• Develop and update wildlife area management plans in order to support wildlife conservation science.
• Ensure compliance, safety, and operational excellence across all projects.
• Collaborate with agency staff, NGOs, volunteers, and the public to elevate habitat work and connect people to Arizona's natural resources.
• Develop competitive funding proposals, oversee grants and contracts, and procure materials in alignment with state and department policies.
• Monitor water availability for wildlife and coordinate hauling or pumping when needed.
• Assist with aquatic, game, and non-game wildlife surveys when opportunities arise.

What Makes You a Great Fit?
You’re someone who thrives outdoors, enjoys problem solving, and takes pride in restoring and protecting natural landscapes. You enjoy variety—one day you might be drafting a grant proposal, and the next you might be repairing a water system, leading a habitat project, or meeting with conservation partners.

The ideal candidate must be able to live in and/or commute to the Yuma area and must be comfortable working outdoors in extreme isolated conditions. This position requires traveling occasionally (up to 3 hours/day) in order to oversee Region IV Wildlife Areas.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us
At the Arizona Game and Fish Department, you’ll join a team of dedicated conservationists who work every day to safeguard Arizona’s wildlife and wild places. You’ll have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, innovate new approaches to habitat management, and leave a lasting legacy on landscapes that matter.

Major responsibilities include:
• Identify, develop, implement, and/or oversee implementation of habitat improvement/enhancement projects on wildlife areas.

• Develop funding proposals for projects and oversee grants/contracts.

• Complete and oversee maintenance/repairs of infrastructure and property including facilities, equipment, vehicles, water lines/irrigation/water storage structures, and fencing on the wildlife areas to allow safe public use.

• Conduct annual property inspections using the Department standardized criteria to identify and document hazards associated with each property and submit inspection and project records as required.

• Monitor water available for wildlife and haul/pump water as needed.

• Create project maps utilizing ArcGIS programs.

• Serve as the designated steward for identified Commission owned or managed properties.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
• Wildlife habitat requirements and habitat restoration/enhancement techniques.
• Risk assessment methods and evaluating the condition of facilities and infrastructure—including houses, jetties, boat ramps, lighting systems, and related structures.
• Budget development and management principles.
• Agricultural and land-management practices relevant to wildlife areas.

Skill in:
• Using computers and common software, GPS units, digital cameras, and related field technology.
• Clear and effective verbal and written communication.
• Establishing, developing, and maintaining productive professional relationships with partners, colleagues, and the public.
• Performing basic trades work, including plumbing, carpentry, fencing, concrete work, masonry, welding, and/or roofing.
• Safely and effectively using hand tools, power tools, compressors, and similar equipment.
• Operating heavy equipment such as backhoes, tractors, and other machinery used in habitat and facility maintenance.

Ability to:
• Safely operate and maintain equipment, including 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
• Develop, write, and update wildlife area management plans.
• Camp, work, and hike independently in remote field locations, sometimes under challenging conditions.
• Read and interpret maps, aerial imagery, and field navigation tools.
• Implement habitat improvement and enhancement projects from planning through completion.
• Administer, oversee, and monitor contracts and grants to ensure compliance and successful project delivery.

The preferred candidate will have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a wildlife science or closely related field. Class A Commercial Drivers License. They will also have project management experience, skill in operating heavy equipment, experience in the building and construction trade, and knowledge of farming practices.

Our work environment offers training opportunities and encourages career development.

Employment is contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked or suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:

* 13 days of vacation
* 12 sick days with accumulation benefits
* 10 paid holidays
* Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System
* Superior health care options
* Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)
* Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available
* Many more benefit programs are available

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Nicole Baker at nbaker@azgfd.gov for assistance.